Gorkha outreach by Mamata in hills ... Mamata hill promise

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 12 Apr 2019, Darjeeling: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she would take "some decision" before the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration polls expected within this year to ensure that "identity" was not a problem for the hill people Mamata, who addressed a meeting at the Darjeeling Motor Stand, didn't elaborate on the "decision" but, given the tone of her speech, the GTA could be in for an overhaul "I want the Gorkha identity to be preserved in Darjeeling.... There is this GTA agreement, I did not do it, it was done by the earlier (Left Front) government, I only signed the agreement," Mamata said The agreement, which led to the formation of the GTA that now administers the hill region, had been signed in July 2011 .

The GTA now has three hill subdivisions (Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik), some areas of Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district and the whole of Kalimpong district under its authority "After the (ongoing parliamentary) elections (and) before the GTA elections, we will try to take some decision about Darjeeling so that identity is not a problem for our Gorkha brothers and sisters," Mamata said.

This was the second time in three months that Mamata had talked about Gorkha identity, probably aware that the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state has always been a core issue in the hills. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang, who shared the dais with Mamata, said one step forward towards solving the identity problem was to review the India-Nepal Friendship Treaty The 1950 treaty allows free movement of Nepalese and Indian citizens in each other's territories -- a provision the Morcha says should be scrapped. Mamata, who had earlier spoken about Gorkha identity in January, on Thursday tried to strike a chord with the hill constituency, addressing issues related to tea gardens and cinchona plantations where the majority of the hill residents live .

From raising the "Jai Gorkha" slogan and saluting the Gorkha army to broaching land rights and relief for tea garden workers not paid by tea companies during the 104 day statehood agitation in 2017, Mamata seconded all issues the Morcha (Binay) camp has raised "Tea workers did not get wages during the strike period, there were a lot of problems. The MCC (model code of conduct for the elections) is on and it will be violated (if any announcement is made)," she said. "If we can do anything on humanitarian grounds, we will do it, but now I cannot say anything." The Morcha, now strategising its campaign for the April 18 Lok Sabha election around the issue of land rights, got some positive assurances as well.